American Revolution
Boston Massacre
fight between colonists and British soldiers that began when colonists started throwing rocks and snowballs; British soldiers opened fire and 5 colonists died
representation
voice in one's government
French and Indian War
war between Great Britain and France because they both claimed the same lands in North America (Ohio Valley)
American Revolution
war between the colonists and Great Britain; colonists wanted to be free from British rule
King George III
British Ruler during the American Revolution
George Washington
Commander in Chief of the Continental Army
Battles of Lexington and Concord
battles which marked the beginning of the American Revolution
Paul Revere
colonist who warned the towns of Concord and Lexington that British were coming
Declaration of Independence
document written by Thomas Jefferson stating that the 13 English colonies were a free and independent nation *Congress voted to accept the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
taxes
extra fees (money) added to the price of goods or services for the support of a government
Patrick Henry
famous Virginian who tried to persuade colonists that taxes were unfair, "Give me liberty, or give me death!"
Samuel Adams
famous colonist who started the Committee of Correspondence and the Sons of Liberty
Crispus Attucks
free black man who was the first person killed in the Revolution at the Boston Massacre
Sons of Liberty
group of colonists who fought against British taxes
Committees of Correspondence
group of people who helped to spread information quickly and helped colonists fight British rule
Stamp Act
law passed by the British parliament (government) that put a tax on many paper items in the colonies such as newspapers, legal documents and playing cards *After the French and Indian War, the British were in debt and wanted the colonists to pay the costs of the war.
Thomas Jefferson
main author of the Declaration of Independence
Taxation without Representation
many colonists said that the British Parliament should not tax them because they did not have representation
Boston Tea Party
members of the Sons of Liberty protested taxes by throwing tea off ships and into the harbor
declaration
official statement
Intolerable Acts (Coercive Acts)
set of laws made by parliament to punish the colonists; included laws that closed the Boston Harbor, prevented meetings from taking place, and forced colonists to quarter (house and feed) British soldiers
revolution
sudden change in government
boycott
to refuse to buy or use goods and services *colonists protested the taxes placed on British goods by refusing to buy them